Texas State was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference West Division by conference coaches in the 2025 preseason coaches’ poll.

Louisiana was picked to win the west and qualify for its second-straight Sun Belt championship game. The Ragin’ Cajuns earned 6 of 14 first-place votes, with Texas State (6), Arkansas State (1) and South Alabama (1) also earning first-place mentions. 

James Madison was picked to finish atop the east and qualify for its first-ever conference championshipo game. The Dukes claimed 11-of-14 first-place votes, with Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina and Marshall each receiving one first-place nod. 

Marshall defeated Louisiana, 31-3, in the 2024 Sun Belt championship game, becoming the first road victor in the seven-year history of the game.

2025 Sun Belt coaches’ poll

(First place votes are in parentheses)

East Division

1. James Madison – 94 points (11) 

2. Georgia Southern – 76 (1) 

3. App State – 60

4. Coastal Carolina – 49 (1)

5. Old Dominion – 48

6. Marshall – 42 (1)

7. Georgia State – 23

West Division

1. Louisiana – 86 (6)

2. Texas State – 78 (6)

3. Arkansas State – 64 (1) 

4. South Alabama – 50 (1)

5. Southern Miss – 47

6. Troy – 43

7. ULM – 24

No Bobcats selected to first or second presason team

Despite being selected to finish second in the west division, Texas State had no players selected to the Sun Belt Conference preseason football team.

Georgia Southern paced all teams with nine selections to the preseason team, followed closely by James Madison (8), Arkansas State (6), Louisiana (6), South Alabama (5) and Southern Miss (5). Texas State was the only school among the 14 not to have a player selected to the preseason All-Sun Belt team.

The Eagles also led all teams with seven first team picks, while Arkansas State (4), Southern Miss (4), James Madison (3), Louisiana (2), Old Dominion (2) and South Alabama (2) also produced multiple first team honorees.

The Sun Belt is coming off a 2024 campaign in which it defeated three autonomy conference foes—running its tally to 22 such victories since 2016 and 11 since 2022, when the league expanded to its current 14-member configuration. The Sun Belt also paced all non-autonomy conferences in Bowl Season representation for the third-straight year.  

2025 Sun Belt preaseason teams and awards

Preseason offensive player of the year: Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss (RS Sr., QB – Frisco, Texas)

Preseason defensive player of the year: Blayne Myrick, South Alabama (RS Jr., LB – Fairhope, Ala.) 

Preseason special teams player of the year: Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State (Jr., K – Grand Rapids, Mich.) 

First team offense
QB: Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss (RS-sr., Frisco, Texas) 
RB: George Pettaway, James Madison (RS-jr., Suffolk, Va.) 
RB: Kentrel Bullock, South Alabama (sr., Columbia, Miss.) 
OL: Nick Del Grande, Coastal Carolina (RS-jr., Lancaster, Pa.)
OL: Caleb Cook, Georgia Southern (RS-sr., Brunswick, Ga.)
OL: Pichon Wimbley, Georgia Southern (sr., Newnan, Ga.) 
OL: Pat McMurtrie, James Madison (gr., Verona, N.J.) 
OL: Zach Barlev, Old Dominion (sr., Bolingbrook, Ill.) 
TE: Toby Payne, Marshall (RS-Jr., Poca, W.Va.) 
WR: Corey Rucker, Arkansas State (RS-sr., Bentonia, Miss.) 
WR: Josh Dallas, Georgia Southern (RS-jr., Sharpsburg, Ga.)
WR: Ted Hurst, Georgia State (sr., Savannah, Ga.) 

First team defense
DL: Bryan Whitehead, Arkansas State (RS-sr., Bartlett, Tenn.)
DL: Latrell Bullard, Georgia Southern (sr., Smyrna, Ga.)
DL: Jordan Lawson, Louisiana (RS-sr., Brandon, Miss.) 
DL: Kevontay Wells, ULM (sr., Jackson, Miss.) 
DL: Brodarius Lewis, Southern Miss (gr., Prattville, Ala.) 
LB: Brendan Harrington, Georgia Southern (7th yr., Moncure, N.C.)
LB: Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (RS-sr., Dingmans Ferry, Pa.) 
LB: Blayne Myrick, South Alabama (RS-jr., Fairhope, Ala.) 
DB: Chance Gamble, Georgia Southern (RS-sr., Fitzgerald, Ga.) 
DB: Jacob Thomas, James Madison (sr., Ashburn, Va.) 
DB: Tyree Skipper, Louisiana (RS-sr., New Orleans, La.) 
DB: Josh Moten, Southern Miss (RS-sr., Waldorf, Md.) 

First team special teams
K: Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State (jr., Grand Rapids, Mich.)
P: Alex Smith, Georgia Southern (jr., Melbourne, Australia) 
RS: Ian Foster, Southern Miss (RS-so., Brundidge, Ala.) 
AP: Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS-sr., Hampton, Ark.) 

Second team offense
QB: Alonza Barnett III, James Madison (RS-jr., Whitsett, N.C.) 
RB: Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS sr., Hampton, Ark.)
RB: Bill Davis, Louisiana (RS-so., LaPlace, La.) 
OL: Jax Harrington, Louisiana (RS-sr., Erath, La.) 
OL: George Jackson, Louisiana (RS-sr., Stone Mountain, Ga.)
OL: Jalen Slappy, Marshall (RS-jr., Columbus, Ohio) 
OL: Jordan Davis, South Alabama (RS-sr., Fairburn, Ga.)
OL: Eli Russ, Troy (sr., Ardmore, Okla.) 
TE: Kyirin Heath, Southern Miss (sr., Mansfield, Texas) 
WR: Dalton Stroman, App State (RS-sr., Rockingham, N.C.)
WR: Jameson Tucker, Coastal Carolina (RS-sr., Mauldin, S.C.) 
WR: Dalen Cobb, Georgia Southern (sr., Washington, Ga.)

Second team defense
DL: Henry Bryant, Georgia State (RS-sr., Delray Beach, Fla.)
DL: Immanuel Bush, James Madison (RS-sr., Lancaster, S.C.) 
DL: Kris Trinidad, Old Dominion (RS-sr., Richmond, Va.) 
DL: Luis Medina, Troy (sr., Summerville, Ga.) 
LB: Shane Bruce, Coastal Carolina (gr., Carrollton, Ga.) 
LB: Trent Hendrick, James Madison (sr., Richmond, Va.)
LB: Cameron Whitfield, Louisiana (RS-sr., Houston, Texas) 
LB: Koa Naotala, Old Dominion (RS-jr., Newport News, Va.)
DB: Tracy Hill Jr., Georgia Southern (RS-jr., Athens, Ga.)
DB: DJ Barksdale, James Madison (jr., Rock Hill, S.C.) 
DB: Wesley Miller, South Alabama (RS-jr., Columbia, Miss.)
DB: Devin Lafayette, Troy (sr., Brunswick, Ga.) 

Second team special teams
K: Scott Taylor Renfroe, Troy (sr., Troy, Ala.) 
P: Aleksi Pulkkinen, South Alabama (jr., Helsinki, Finland) 
RS: Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS-sr., Hampton, Ark.) 
AP: George Pettaway, James Madison (RS-jr., Suffolk, Va.)